For people who are unfamiliar with it, it would have to be one of the physically toughest sporting comps in the world – 24 consecutive weeks being smashed around on hard Australian grounds followed by another month of finals – to get stripped of two seasons of that would be amazingly gutting for any players innocent of involvement.

On Christmas Eve 1915, a peace overture came from the German lines. On Christmas Day, after a night of carol singing, Bertie Felstead, a private in the Royal Welch Fusiliers recalled that feelings of goodwill had so swelled up that at dawn Bavarian and British soldiers clambered spontaneously out of their trenches. A football was produced from somewhere – though none could recall from where. "It wasn't a game as such, more a kick-around and a free-for-all. There could have been 50 on each side for all I know. I played because I really liked football. I don't know how long it lasted, probably half an hour."[13]

"...you shall be taken from this place and forced to watch nothing but rugby league. You shall take an interest in it until you find youself forming an opinion on what's going on, and maybe even following a team. TAKE HIM AWAY."